Iranian film community rallies in support of sentenced filmmakers

A group of prominent members of the Iranian film community visited the head of
judiciary, Ayatollah Sadegh Larijani to express their concern about the heavy
prison terms that were recently handed to their two colleagues, filmmakers Jafar
Panahi and Mohammad Rasoulof.

Mohammad Rasoulof

Khabar-on-line reports that the group urged the Head of Judiciary not to
allow "Iran's art scene fall prey to political traps,' and called on Ayatollah
Larijani to approach the cases, which are both currently in the appeal stage,
more positively.

The visit has reportedly been successful in attaining the promise of the head of
the Judiciary's Human Rights Commission, Mohammad Javad Larijani to take a more
favourable stance regarding the appeal.

Jafar Panahi was recently sentenced to six years in prison and 20 years ban from
filmmaking and travel abroad for allegedly planning to make a film about the
post-election protests in Iran. Mohammad Rasoulof was also sentenced to six
years in prison.

Both the Iranian and international film community have spoken out against these
sentences and called on Iran to rescind the court rulings.